Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Redeeming Grace Church

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I'd like to dive right into this. It's the wonderful story of the woman that's caught in the very act of adultery, an awful sin that broke

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God's law. She is brought to Jesus for judgment.

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I started to name this the Tribunal of Christ because really

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Christ is the grand subject of the Bible and it's the scribes and the Pharisees here that are doing their best to trap

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Jesus and to put Him on trial, but they don't recognize it that the scribes and the

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Pharisees, they are the one that's going to be on trial. But I titled this, that is greater than all of our sin in which we will sing that at the conclusion.

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Now, for an icebreaker here, I'm going to tell you and I'm going to share something with you personally with you as your pastor.

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I've studied many scriptures and anytime I come to a text that's debated and controversial like this was a serious obstacle to me and my family and my personal worship.

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It was, I confess to you, I tore up four pages of notes and I had to start all over.

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That was my introduction, four pages. I said, no, I can't do that to my congregation.

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It was just too much of a hindrance and a stumbling block to me personally.

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So I'm going to try to get through this and consolidate this introduction about this text and what

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I'm talking about. And what am I talking about? It is often cited here in John chapter 8 and actually beginning with the text,

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John chapter 7 verse 53 to John 8 verse 1 all the way to verse 11 is taught and preached.

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Many times it's been preached down through the centuries in the church and churches stretching across many denominations.

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This beloved familiar passage of scripture has been debated over the centuries whether it is authentic in the original manuscripts.

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And also, let me say in parentheses, along with Mark chapter 16 verse 9 to verse 20 has been in debate and controversy whether that text is in and there are others that's placed in and you have to look at the internal evidence and look at the external testimony.

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I'm not going to go in detail what that means, but you can look it up yourself. And I'm not going to...

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I'm going to put some of the ball in your court as a noble good Berean. We all must be good

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Bereans and to search these things out and do our homework where this text actually fits in the scriptures or does it fit into the scriptures at all.

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Now no doubt this is one of the longest and like I said most famous New Testament text whose authenticity is questioned.

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As you know as well as I do is that these debates could go on and on and on and back and forth with very good intentions, very good points to make.

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But can I honestly say this in the worship service and especially with the children without being bored to death about going into a whole complete hour whether this fits into the scriptures.

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I'm going to say this. It will absolutely take up too much time and become a distraction to our focus in worship.

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And if it was an obstacle to me in my personal worship time with the

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Lord and studying this text, I don't see any point of bringing this out and saying okay we're going to throw this whole part of this chapter out of the sermon and saying okay it's not authentic to the original manuscript.

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Now like I said there are debates. I'm not saying it doesn't exist. But for the sake of time as your pastor we are not going to spend a whole hour in the worship service and debating and looking into the controversy whether John 7 .53

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to John 8 .1 -11 is authentic. Now I know that doesn't answer the question.

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And briefly let me say this. I've read one commentator to another commentator and I'm talking about good conservative scholars and theologians.

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R .C. Sproul basically in his wonderful way brought out the meaning of how does this text fit into the original.

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Or is it in the original period? Why is it in the Bible? I had quotes by him so I'm not going to bring that to your attention.

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There are others. Leon Morris really skips the whole thing.

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He makes very good remarks about it. I got one quote here by him in just a minute.

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But it's interesting. And if you notice in your translation who has it here the

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LSB has brackets. Does anyone here have a translation? Do you see those brackets where those verses are?

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Well a lot of translations like the NASB has those brackets and they're basically telling you that this is not found in the original autographs.

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The original text. Now let me say in regards to the authenticity.

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Is it inspired of God? Should it be in the

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Bible? Where is its placement? That would be a good subject to address, wouldn't it?

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But right now is not the time for it. Maybe in a Bible study in an adult

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Sunday school class sometime. Maybe Seth, I challenge Seth to bring that one out sometime.

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I went back and forth in reading this. Also there's something interesting I thought that was very important to bring out.

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I went to Matthew Henry. Which is considered one of the greatest commentaries or commentators of the

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Bible. A Puritan. He does not even touch on why or where the placement of this story fits in the

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Bible. He just basically goes through the story. And I think he's got a point. It should not be an obstacle to our worship and it should not throw in question whether this is in...

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why it's in the Bible. Then later on in the centuries down the road they say it was not to the original apostolic writings to where it goes in John.

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Some feels like it goes in other locations. Luke chapter 21 somewhere in there.

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I believe I read. But in saying that, let me say this. As I was in my study this week and especially yesterday

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I literally wrote several pages and I said, there's just no way. I would like to do this as a challenge to you.

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Please be noble Bereans and search the scriptures yourselves and look into church history concerning this text.

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Now I want to throw in our church father Ambrose our church father

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Augustine as much as we reverence these men in the early centuries historically in the history of the church they had problems with this text because they felt like Jesus was too lenient on sin.

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Augustine, Ambrose but these men, as much as we respect them we don't agree with everything, right?

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Again, be a noble Berean search the scriptures daily to see whether those things are so we must all study to show ourselves approved unto

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God to rightly divide the word of truth. That is the text in the scriptures but does it fit in the placement of where it is?

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Well, I personally, I came to the conclusion I believe it does. Warren Worsby believes that that it fits right here.

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And Worsby is he may not be a theologian and scholar but I believe the man had the right viewpoint on the text.

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Now, again, saying that though the differences do exist whether or not that this text is authentic or not authentic some scholars again treat it as it is not some do.

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Again, the placement some feel like the placement is wrong some feel like the placement is right and I'm thinking, now there's so many different opinions and good scholars that are basically going back and forth with this.

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Again, I personally like and you can judge me on this you have a right to do that I really love the way

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Matthew Henry holds to it. He does not go into the debate itself.

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He goes just to the story. Warren, I get this out of Warren Worsby he said this, most scholars conservative scholars seem to agree that this passage is a part of inspired scripture.

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And he mentioned L. F. Bruce, a theologian let me quote Bruce L. F.

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Bruce says that this text is a fragment of authentic gospel material. End quote.

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Other scholars such as Westcott says this quote, it is beyond doubt and an authentic fragment of apostolic tradition quote, end quote.

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So that describes an actual historical event from the life of Christ and the picture it paints to us is one of grace wisdom love forgiveness of our dear

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Savior and it is consistent with the Bible's portrait of Jesus Christ scholar

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Leon Morris did make this statement here even though he doesn't address and I just bought a big thick commentary about that thick and he is so good in everything but he basically just does not grapple with it he says this if we cannot feel that this is part of John's gospel we can feel that the story is true to the character of Jesus end quote.

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I agree with that. So in saying that you just got an inner small introduction about which

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I consolidated it from an whole hour to 12 minutes could have went longer so much that could be said about that this wonderful passage to us is not primarily the story of adulterers can

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I tell you that even though there is an adulteress here in our story it's not about the adulteress can

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I tell you that the story is not about the hypocritical religious leaders the

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Pharisees the scribes and the Pharisees it's not about them who basically use this tactic cunningly to attack or try to attack the

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Lord or entrap the Lord Jesus Christ so let this stay in the forefront of our mind that the central figure of this story is none other than the

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Lord Jesus Christ himself. This is what John the apostle is bringing out that Jesus Christ is the son of the living

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God that's what's important so don't let these obstacles about whether this particular part of this chapter fits here and there wherever it goes is it authentic yes do you homework study see where it's placement is see what people have to say about it but I've come to the conclusion personally it fits right here folks it fits here so let us read this wonderful text and let us behold the lamb of God this morning as he is our gracious savior and he's a gracious savior towards this adulterous woman and also

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Jesus firmly and lovingly rebukes in wisdom the self righteous

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Pharisees so turn with me to John chapter 7 let's look at it beginning with verse 53

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I'm going to read to John chapter 8 verse 1 beginning with verse 1 verse 11 but first of all

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I'm going to read verse 53 and again there's people that debate whether this is should be placed here and whether it's authentic I believe with all my heart it belongs right here

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God has ordained it to be in the Bible right and I believe there's a purpose for that you can honestly say it is the word of the living

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God so can I say this before I read the scriptures I say with absolute confidence hear the word of the living

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God and everyone went to his own house but Jesus went to the

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Mount of Olives now early in the morning he came again into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat down and taught them then the scribes and the

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Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery and when they had set her in the mist they said to him teacher this woman was caught in adultery in the very act now

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Moses and the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what do you say this they said testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him but Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear and when they continued asking him he raised himself up and said to them he who is without sin among you let him throw a stone at her first and again he stooped down and wrote on the ground did it twice verse 9 then those who heard it being convicted by their conscience went out one by one beginning with the oldest even to the last and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the mist and Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman he said to her woman where are those accusers of yours has no one condemned you she said no one lord and Jesus said to her neither do

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I condemn you go and sin no more let's bow in God's presence now as we approach his holy word and reverence and ask

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God's blessing within this hour of worship father we bow before you in your presence and we also bow in reverence oh

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God before your holy word lord it causes me to tremble of lord the great responsibility that I have taken and you have placed upon me this morning to bring this text to your people

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I literally tremble lord of that great responsibility but lord we do worship you our heavenly father we do praise you for your holy word that you have preserved it and it is inspired every word of it every word that you have spoken lord is true and it's pure you have exalted your word above your holy name this brings us oh

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God to a place of great reverence and awe before you oh lord so lord

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I pray we need the help of your blessed holy spirit within this hour oh

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God I would pray to help me lord hide myself behind the cross and that everyone here would just hear a voice crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the lord make his path straight search our hearts out this morning oh

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God and change us and I conclude this prayer lord as we begin our study in this wonderful chapter here from psalm 19 verse 14 as David cried out to you lord let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh lord my strength and my redeemer and I pray this in Jesus name for your glory amen as we read and hear the wonderful words of life in which

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I've spoken to you let us again keep in mind the scriptures from the apostle

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John here while he wrote this book he wrote it and you can see the whole underlying theme and the purpose of his writing this book in chapter 20 chapter 20 and I believe it's verse 30 and 31 and truly

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Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book now that's clear there's things we do not know but the things that are known are revealed to us the sons of men as Deuteronomy 29 29 says then he says in verse 31 keep in mind this is what's really important beloved is but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the

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Christ the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name that's the underscoring theme of everything that John is saying even here there's another that's at the end of it and I'm going to make a book end here in John chapter 1 verse 16 and 17 in light of the story in chapter 8 verse 1 to 11

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God's gracious inspired word says this and of his fullness we have received and grace for grace for the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ the law was given through Moses he is the law giver he represented the law in the sense of being the prophet as he was and receiving the law of God on Mount Sinai and handing it to the people of Israel God's children he was that instrument he was

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God's conduit so to speak but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ what a wonderful statement what a wonderful statement if you remember the wonderful and awesome occasion when

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Moses the prophet who was God's instrument as I mentioned to give God's people the law of God from Mount Sinai when

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God's awesome presence descended upon it upon Mount Sinai there was smoke it was actually terrible in the sense not that it was bad but it was full of awesomeness and worship displaying thunder and lightnings and smoke and that was when

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God gave his law to Moses to pass to the children of Israel no one was to even touch the mountain of Sinai and if they did they had to be executed, killed, shot through you could not touch it because of the presence of almighty

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God that was upon it it makes us tremble to think of that of the law and the justice and the holiness of God but there's something here that I believe is wonderful God brought the children of Israel out of the house of bondage from the slavery of Pharaoh by his right his all powerful hand to deliver his people from that slavery out from the house of bondage and he was taking them to a destination where was that?

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Canaan land and Moses never got to enter it he was the prophet of God why did

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God hold him back? You remember the story he smote the rock and that rock was

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Christ but it was okay for him to smite it once because it represented Jesus being executed and crucified once but he smote it again because he became very angry with the children of Israel and God says because you disobeyed me

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I will not allow you to go into that land now I'm leading up to something else here

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I think is very important there was another time also in Moses' life meekest man on earth think of that he got angry that shows you he's very human did

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Jesus ever fall into sin like that? No he didn't he was the sinless son of God now there's much we can learn here but there's another time in Moses' life that he requested that God would display his glory to him he said

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I want to see your glory so what did God do? God says you go right into the cleft of the rock here and I will pass by and God first told him he said you cannot see me face to face no man can see me and live that's how glorious and holy

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God is he says Moses even you cannot see me and live it would literally disintegrate him disintegrate anyone even the prophet of God the

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Lord basically replied to Moses after he told him that he said but I will do something for you go in the cleft of the rock and when

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I pass by you cannot see me face to face but you will see the back quarters and I will pass by but you will see and listen to this what attribute will you see?

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God mentioned his goodness his goodness he said all of his goodness will pass before Moses and then he passed by and God declared this and I'm reading paraphrased parts of this from Exodus here that the

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Lord is merciful and gracious he's long suffering he's abounding in goodness he abounds in goodness and truth doesn't leave out none there he's gracious he's merciful basically he's compassionate he's full of pity

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Jonah the prophet had a problem with the pity of God you could read that story those three chapters is amazing he was a prophet and he even had a hard time with understanding why

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God could forgive such heathens in Nineveh but Moses he's telling

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Moses in goodness you will see my mercy and my all these attributes the graciousness long suffering abounding in goodness but the goodness of God stands out and these are the attributes of God's glory that emphasize the goodness the character especially in the relationship to salvation now in John chapter 8 verse 1 to 11 we see this holy grace this gracious grace this grace upon grace this holy pity this holy and I say holy because there's nothing else like it on this universe that God the holy

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God demonstrated this in Jesus Christ in his son to a woman that was caught in the very act of adultery and the law says that she was to be put to death now here comes these self righteous scribes and pharisees and they have a plot they're trying to plan to trap

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Jesus you know it's interesting there was no compromise towards sin here

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I want you to think of this and again I mentioned Ambrose and Augustine and they really thought as church fathers and as great as they are and much greater than many preachers today even though they were mere mortal men but they had tremendous minds and hearts deep that loved

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God but even in their views they were off on some things we can find faults with anyone but Jesus I can guarantee you that anyone even the prophets of God you can find faults somewhere but not

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Jesus he's the only sinless son of God and here Jesus deals with these self righteous pharisees and scribes with words of grace powerful and here we see

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Jesus in Jerusalem since everyone else went out to his home Jesus went to the mount of olives he spent the night and now whether the

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Lord slept out on the mountain side or stayed at the home of Mary Martha and Lazarus and Bethany and the reason

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I mention that is because on the eastern slope of the mount of olives that's where they lived we see this in John chapter 11 just a few chapters that Jesus makes a visit there in Bethany so Bethany is just right on the hillside over there but it doesn't tell us where Jesus spent the night we here see

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Jesus the creator the second person of the trinity the incarnate son of God had no place of his own to lay his head he illustrates here the perfect humiliation once again in the gospel record another picture of his great condescension in the incarnation which

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Philippians 2 7 and 8 Paul says when he emptied himself taking the form of a bond slave being made in the likeness of men being found in the appearance as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross and that was his mission to die now at his birth his mother wrapped the babe the gift the father has given

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Mary being a vessel we don't worship but she is a vessel that was used of God to bear the son of God she carries him she gives birth to him and literally the scripture says wrapped him in clothes swaddled him in clothes and laid him in a manger it's the

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Christmas story isn't it but it's a story for all times of life the incarnation of Christ why did they do that?

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because there was no room for them in the end and still the world says there's no room for Jesus but beloved let me say you need to make room for Jesus make room for him during his ministry and his life his perfect life he fulfilled the law to it's fullness he said to be a would be follower one time in Matthew 8 20 the foxes have holes and the birds have of the air have nests but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head

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I quoted that to a charismatic that's what I call them the charismatic and this guy just looked at me crazy and he said well

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I'm not looking at that verse I said what are you talking about you're not looking at that verse he said I'm looking at the other verses and he actually quoted if I'm not mistaken

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I had it wrote down here from Corinthians that the

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Lord Jesus Christ though he was rich became poor and I said friend you got that I said

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I know where you're going with that you got it all out of context before you even speak it out of your mouth I said cause

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I know exactly where you're going because I was friends at one time in my early conversion with people in the charismatic movement that twisted scriptures like that saying that Jesus though he was rich became poor for your sake that you might be rich and it has nothing to do with dollars and cents in this world it has everything to do with the riches of his grace and his mercy being rich in faith and good works and righteousness and holiness how dare anybody to throw that out of context it's blasphemy well the text here notes that simply without fanfare early in the next morning verse 2

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Jesus came again into the temple and all the people came to him and he sat down and taught them

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John MacArthur notes this in his commentary in his humility the Lord used no gimmicks to market or promote himself but offered his teaching freely to all who would listen to him end quote so in a typical rabbonic sense and style which the rabbis the teachers would use they would always sit down he sat down he does this at the sermon on the mount he literally sits down and then the bible says he opened his mouth and he began to go through the beatitudes with that pouring forth of blessing after blessing after blessing and then he goes through those three wonderful chapters of the greatest sermon ever preached

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Jesus simply sat down here somewhere in the temple we don't know exactly where and began to teach the people now in verse 3 to 11 we come to the wonderful story that illustrates to us the profound truth that truth that we all are great sinners beloved can

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I say that we are all great sinners I know there's a lot of people outside of the church that's not part of the church that look at us like well we are the righteous ones and we are in Jesus Christ I will say that but we are still sinners in need of God's grace we are desperate and we only as great sinners we look to Christ as a great savior actually that was the testimony of John Newton who wrote amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me in his last words he says my eyesight my health is almost gone but one thing

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I still do know that I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great savior it is true saying that and every saint has a past in Christ and every sinner that repents and believers believes the gospel has a glorious future you can be sure of that beloved so this story in John 8 is an illustration of that great truth now let me get to my outline well almost to my outline

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I want to say one more thing first the first thing that I like to say this in this story there is we literally see three groups of people that are represented here let me tell you who those three groups are and where do you fit in in this group the first is the unrighteous which is represented by the woman that is called in adultery

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Romans 3 .10 as it is written there is no unrighteous no not one Romans 3 .23

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for all not some all have come short of the glory of God no one excluded that includes all of us so first you see the unrighteous is represented by the woman that is called in adultery the second group of people is the self righteous not only the unrighteous but the self righteous which are represented by the scribes obviously and the

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Pharisees the hypocrites they are the religious play actors John 7 .24

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judge not according to parents but judge righteous judgment Romans 2 .1

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therefore Paul speaks to this man that was basically being haughty and prideful thinking he had all the answers he says therefore thou art inexcusable old man whosoever thou art that judges for whenever thou judges another thou condemnest thyself for thou that judges doest the same things you are a hypocrite basically the third group is of course the most wonderful not only we see the we see the unrighteous and the self righteous we see those that are represented by the

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Lord Jesus Christ that are the righteous ones only because of Christ so you only have and aren't there only two types of people in this world lost and saved and unrighteous and righteous absolutely

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I just included the unrighteous and self righteous those actually are one but for the groups yeah the groups are represented here and the representation of the

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Lord Jesus Christ he is the righteous one John the apostle says it in John 2 .1

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my little children these things I write unto you that you sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the father

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Jesus Christ the righteous now here the apostle John had

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I believe possibly he could have had the story of this adulterous woman in mind when he wrote that in 1

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John I don't know but it seems like it fits together yet again we are to keep in mind that Jesus Christ our

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Lord and Savior is the central figure of this wonderful story it's a story of grace we see grace in John 3 .16

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and 17 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life remember verse 17 for God sent not his son into the world to what to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved he came to be our

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Savior and isn't that what the bible says when he was first born thou shall call his name

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Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins

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I know there's different interpretations and views on that but again we are to be noble Bereans see where that is according to the right interpretation

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Paul said in 1 Timothy 1 .15 I love this Paul says this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Jesus Christ why did he come here it is he came into the world to what save sinners that's why he came beloved is to save sinners save sinners of whom and then

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Paul says is whom I am chief Paul had that weight of being a persecutor of the church of the living

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God that he killed many Christians at one time in his life as he was Saul of Tarsus God forgave him think of that he was a murderer of many

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Christians and he had the authority in the papers to put them to death

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God forgave Paul so as John 8 begins notice with me the contrast between John 7 53 and 8 1

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Jesus had no home of his own as I already said he came into his own his own received him not verse 12 but as many as received him there is the positive to them he gave the right to become the children of God to those who believe in his name who were born not of blood this is one of the greatest verses to me that just slaps man's free will between the eyes that man is free to do whatever he wishes to do even in salvation and you hear this among our

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Armenian friends many many times in which we once were but by God's grace we see that it's not a works list it is by grace alone through faith alone that we come to Jesus Christ into salvation but people say yeah but I still had a choice well we could go in and out about the debates here and you could go to James 1

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James 1 ties in perfectly here about every good gift every perfect gift comes from the father of lights which is the variable and is the shadow of turning but that fits what is the gift is he talking about the gift of salvation and it's not something we did if that was the case there would be no need of grace well he says in verse 13 who were born not of blood that means traditional blood nor the will of the flesh whose will is it

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God's will Paul reemphasizes this again in Romans I believe 9 it's not him that runs and he that wills but it's of God so nor is of the will of man but of God but of God salvation is

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God centered it's God centered 2

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Corinthians 8 9 here it is for you know the grace of our lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes became poor that you through his poverty might be rich rich in grace rich in mercy well here's my points first we're going to see very quickly the charge the charge verse 3 through 6 second we will see the challenge verse 6

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B through verse 8 third we will see the conviction verse 9 fourth we will see and observe the compassion and fifth we will see the command verse 11 then we will look at some practical application can

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I get through all this within 20 more minutes well let's hope and pray I can let's go let's look at first of all the charge the charge verse 3 to 6 verse 3 to 6 then the scribes of the pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery when they had set her in the midst they said to him teacher this woman was caught in adultery in the very act now

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Moses in the law commanded us that that such should be stoned but what do you say this they said testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him this is an interruption that became the illustration of God's amazing grace beloved and an introduction to Christ is teaching that he is the light of the world you see this throughout the rest of this chapter that Jesus Christ is the light of the world he opens up the blind eyes he forgives the wretched sinners and when a person follows him believes in him and does he will not he or she will not walk in spiritual darkness any longer but has passed from darkness to God's marvelous light a change has taken place

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Paul says this in 2nd Corinthians 5 17 therefore if any man be in Christ he's what he's a new creation he's a new creature and what happens all things have passed behold there's that word behold look all things become new that's what happens when a person's in Jesus Christ when

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Christ is in him there is a metamorphosis there is a change there is an absolute change and people know it doesn't mean you're perfect but you're forgiven of your sins you're you go from from darkness to light from hell to heaven from being a slave of sin to a slave of righteousness there's a new heart and regeneration a new heart is put within the

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Holy Spirit comes to abide within Christ comes to abide within and with he takes out an old heart of stone puts in a new heart of flesh and on that new heart of flesh he writes his very laws in the

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Bible if you could read it in Ezekiel 36 there he says I will cause you to fear me I will cause you

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I will God does that God constantly says he does the work again salvation is

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God centered here the scribes were known as the lawyers you know lawyers don't have too good of a reputation today do they very few people trust lawyers you know and you wonder why most of them are crooks sad to say it's become popular now within the evangelical world amen brother says sad to say it's all over the place and it's growing like leaven a little leaven leavens the whole lump and what happens

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I've used this illustration many times you can take a whole bag of potatoes and I've seen this as a produce man before you can put one bad potato right in the middle of a big bag of potatoes and give it some time the rest of those potatoes become rotten and the whole bag becomes spoiled that's why

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Paul says you got to remove this leaven you got to remove this out from the church it's unclean or it's going to spread like leaven it's like a cancer it's organic but it keeps on going it grows but it must be removed from out of the church and therefore that's why we believe in restorative church discipline amen because Jesus believes in keeping his church pure well here these lawyers these scribes these pharisees these hypocrites they were the experts so called of interpreting the law and by the way the pharisees were the ones that were the experts of enforcing it they enforced it they were the whipping boys by the way of the scribes so the rabbi said every

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Jew must die before he would commit idolatry murder or adultery that's what they believed adultery was considered to be one of the most worst of all sins in that time period and is now even to the

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Jew and it was punishable by death according to Leviticus 2010 let me read it to you and the man that committed adultery with another man's wife keep in mind what it says here this is the law this is what it says here in Leviticus chapter 20 even he that committed adultery with his neighbor's wife the adulterer and there's a reason

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I'm bringing this out the adulterer shall be surely put to death so here in our story let me ask you the question why isn't the man brought out you don't see a man here you only see a woman keep in mind too especially in this period of time in biblical times women were really looked down at a lot has changed in those days now women are trying to elevate themselves to a point now women

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I'm not picking on your race but it's a fact right there is a there is what

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I would say the the feminist group and those women that are truly feminine did

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I get it right you see what I'm saying but I don't want to go there and lose track but in verse 5 they stated basically what the law required and then they asked

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Jesus what he thought and then they brought the guilty woman again there was no man no man here or was there was there we will see these self righteous pharisees scribes accused the woman but again they really wanted their intention and motive was really to trap

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Jesus and accuse him that's what they were doing and this was a very wicked plot it was deceitful it was set up it was cunning as if Jesus was going to compromise is he going to be lenient is he going to disregard the law so that he would totally lose credibility you see this if he held to the law and called for execution he would lack compassion all a trap and this was a motive of the religious scribes and the pharisees so there you basically have the charge next we see next we see the challenge the challenge in 6b -8 but they said testing him that they might have something of which they had to accuse him but Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear so when they continued asking him he raised himself up and said to them he who is without sin among you let him throw a stone at her first and again he stooped down and wrote on the ground what's happening here it's interesting

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Jesus stooped down he wrote on the ground in the temple floor which was dirt as if he didn't hear them

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I think in a sense too in the wisdom of the son of man the son of God no one could intimidate

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Jesus neither did he commit himself to men because he didn't trust he knew what was in man that's what

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John 1 says the end of it but he knew how to deal with these blind deceived self -righteous hypocrites these religious rulers this is the only time in interesting that we find in the bible that Jesus is recorded that Jesus wrote something the only time that Jesus wrote something what did he write

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I got some of these ideas from Wearsby but let me read it to you that day in the temple that dusty floor the answer would to that question is that we really don't know but let me give you some suggestions

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I think this is good we don't know what he wrote we still don't and if it's important to you he'll tell you in heaven but I think by then you'll be seeing him face to face and it's not going to matter anymore right but let's just look at it

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I've even heard some suggested that he wrote on the ground as a delay tactic making these men think about what they said to him a delay tactic some have suggested that he wrote love letters in the sand while others have mentioned that he wrote the names of men that committed adultery with the women as well

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I've heard R .C. Sproul mention that some commentators have suggested that he wrote the ten commandments since after all that God, the father himself wrote the law with his finger that it can mean that also the word right can also mean write down a charge against someone some others have also suggested that he wrote the names of those men on the ground in connection with Jeremiah 17 13

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I think this is a good one though Jeremiah 17 13 says this listen to this

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Oh Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth because they have forsaken the

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Lord the fountain of living waters the names of unbelievers are written in the earth but the names of believers are written in heaven

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Luke 10 20 I think that's a good suggestion but we still don't know well

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God the father even though he wrote the ten commandments with his own finger originally in Exodus 31 18

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Jesus the son of God writes here in the sand of the earth verse 9

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Jesus turns the situation back to the scribes back on the scribes and Pharisees according to the law the witness of the crime were to start the witness of the crime were to start the execution process and here

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Jesus is the witness but in order to do so they could not quite be guilty of the same crime literally he said this in wisdom he that is without sin among you let him cast the first stone basically he's saying he that is without a sinful desire start throwing the stone

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Jesus said in effect you may stone basically her but only if you have not done the same thing yourselves even in your mind and heart we can read this in in the sermon on the mount as I mentioned briefly earlier that Jesus speaks about adultery but he speaks it not just physically but he speaks about it in the heart verse 27 of chapter 5 you have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not commit adultery but I say to you whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart and then he gives how you deal with it if your right eye causes you causes you to sin pluck it out and cast it from you for it's more profitable for you that one of your members perish then for your whole body to be cast into hell is it worth going to hell because of one's sin dominates over you no deal with it stop it what he's saying is is repent of it and if your right hand another illustration causes you this is hyperbole folks he's not talking about literally cut it off he's talking about hyperbole basically what you do you stop it you stop the sinning and if your right hand causes you to sin cut it off cast it from you cast it away from you for it's more profitable for you to that one of your members perish then your whole body to be cast into hell you know what he's basically saying put it to death mortify it by the spirit repent of it well that's another sermon in itself so Jesus said in effect you only if you have not done the same thing yourselves even in your mind and heart and every single one of them are guilty of it matter of fact might have been some there that were guilty of having adultery affairs with this woman third we move to the conviction

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I must move on verse 9 verse 9 those who heard it being convicted by their conscience that's important their conscience went out one by one beginning with the oldest even to the last and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the mist wonderful verse they went out one by one the older man leading the way and the word conscience is important because it basically means to know with to know with conscience gives us a self awareness you know

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MacArthur John MacArthur he's with the Lord now as you well know but he wrote a wonderful book called the vanishing of a conscience he speaks about some great analogies about that it's like an alarm system like a clock and he gave an illustration one time in a jetliner that this radio the jet was basically saying pull up pull up pull up and I believe it was a hispanic jetliner and they said basically said shut up shut up and it wouldn't shut up and it kept saying pull up pull up and next thing you know they were right in the mountain and they all perished see it's like an alarm clock to wake up it gives you the self awareness of right and wrong your conscience do you have a conscience that's tender of right and wrong or is it seared like hot iron flesh like it says in Romans 1 conscience approves us when we do right and it condemns us when we do wrong it can be accuser or excuser and the very sting of their own conscience and their hear were guilty of the sin and lust they had committed adultery in their hearts well let's go to the fourth the compassion and I'm going to try to wrap this up as fast as I can with this we're getting close to the conclusion verse 10 and 11 the compassion and when

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Jesus raised himself up and saw no one but the woman he said to her woman where are those accusers of yours has no one condemned you and she said no one lord and Jesus said to her neither do

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I condemn you go and sin less no he didn't say go sin less he said go and sin no more that's a message to us beloved and I want you to think of this and I know you've heard this before but it never gets old

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Jesus was the only one that had the right and was qualified to cast the first stone and to execute it but he didn't he showed grace and mercy and he did not

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Jesus did not condemn her either and he let yet he alone was the only righteous one there

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Matthew Henry says this not but that Christ knew where they were but he asked that he might shame them who declined to his judgment

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Henry goes on to say and encourage her to who resolved to abide by it

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Saint Paul challenges his challenges like this who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect it is

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God who justifies where are those accusers Henry said there is one accuser the accuser of the brethren shall be fairly even cast out of all indicaments legally and regularly gnashed secondly they do not appear when the question is asked hath no man condemned thee she said no man

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Lord he goes on to say she speaks respectfully to Christ calls him

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Lord but is silent concerning her prosecutor says nothing in answer to that question which concerned them where are those nine accusers she does not triumph now listen to what he says here she does not triumph in their retreat nor insult over them as witnesses against themselves not against her if we hope to be forgiven by our judge we must forgive our accusers and their accusations how insidious how ambiguous

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I'm sorry so ever were the happy occasion of awakening their consciences we may easily forgive them this wrong end quote you know what he's saying you see that's where that's what

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Jesus was looking at true penance it forgives look at Psalm 51 that's a whole chapter of displaying

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God's mercy and God's forgiveness forgive others as Christ has forgiven us or to forgive one another not to hold grudges not to be bitter bitterness in the scriptures in Hebrews it speaks about a root of bitterness it's like poison to the soul how many people you know are bitter it's poison that's the

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Greek word for bitter it's poison to their soul Paul says judge yourselves that you may not be judged last and I'm going to pull in some applications real quick here because my time's gone there's the command in verse 11b and I think this is the most important she said no lord no one lord no one lord and Jesus said to her neither do

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I condemn you go and sin no more what's he doing he's calling her to repentance how many times in scripture

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Jesus calls us to repentance the first thing he preached folks was repentance this is our message to a lost and dying world is repentance he preached the kingdom of God and what did he say repent or you will all likewise perish folks that's not this pastor that's the words of the lord and savior

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Jesus Christ and he calls this woman here even as he forgives her to repentance he told her leave your life of sin stop what you're doing repent and believe the gospel believe in me repent is a change of mind but it's also a change of direction quick application to this is found in Proverbs 28 13 it's a very familiar proverb isn't it he who covers his sins will not prosper but and here it is you cannot divorce forgiveness from repentance because notice how they're married together here but whoever confesses confession is part of it we believe in confession confess with your mouth the lord

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Jesus Christ and believe in your heart but whosoever confesses and forsakes them you must forsake it give it up turn from it we'll have mercy you see that that's the word of God you want

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God's pity you want mercy you must throw yourselves in the arms of God and it is grace that is doing the work but here we see confession forsaking of the sin having mercy repentance and forgiveness are never ever divorced from one another beloved

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Proverbs 28 13 the precious promise of cleansing and forgiveness of sins

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Jeremiah 33 8 Jeremiah 33 8 and I got just a few scriptures here in closing but let me give you the few scriptures

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God says I will cleanse them from all their iniquity and by which they have sinned against me and will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against me notice that how many times

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God says all all your sin could be forgiven today but it requires the command is repentance repentance

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Psalm verse 130 verse 3 and 4 if you

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Lord should mark iniquities Lord who could stand who could stand but there's forgiveness with you that you may be feared

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Acts 13 38 therefore let it be known to you brethren that through this man talking about Jesus is preached to you the forgiveness of sins

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Ephesians 1 7 this is just a few so many in him Christ we have redemption through his blood takes us to the cross the forgiveness of sins the forgiveness of sins all of your sins according to the riches of his grace according to the riches of his grace let me give you a quote from where is me and I'll close with this quote we must not reinterp misinterpret this event to mean that Jesus was easy on sin or that he contradicted the law for Jesus to forgive this woman meant that he had to one day die for her sins forgiveness is free but it is not cheap furthermore

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Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law so that no one could justly accuse him of opposing his teachings and weakening its power by applying the law to the woman and not themselves the

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Jewish leaders were violating both the letter and the spirit of the law and they thought they were defending

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Moses I'm telling you Jesus in here was the one that perfectly kept the law before him he goes on to say this the law was given to reveal sin

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Romans 3 20 and we must be condemned by the law before we can be cleansed by God's grace that is such a good quote law and grace do not compete with each other they compliment each other they compliment each other nobody was ever saved by keeping the law but no nobody will ever be was ever saved by grace who was not first indicted by the law there must be conviction before there can be conversion that is good nor is

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Christ gracious forgiveness listen to this nor is

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Christ gracious forgiveness an excuse for sin go and sin no more was our

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Lord's counsel Psalm 134 but there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared certainly the experience of gracious forgiveness would motivate the penitent sinner to live a holy and obedient life to the glory of God Amen and Amen let's pray

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Father Lord there is so much here Lord I can easily preach another hour here for hours but Lord only your spirit can take it and drive it to the hearts

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Lord we thank you today that in Jesus Christ that we were buried with him in baptism in which we were also raised with him through the faith alone in the working of yourself

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Lord who raised him from the dead and as it says in Colossians you say

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Lord in verse 13 chapter 2 and when we were being dead and trespasses and uncircumcision of our flesh he has made us alive together with him having forgiven us all of our trespasses hallelujah

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Lord you wiped it out of the handwriting with the requirements that was against us which was contrary to us how did it happen the

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Lord Jesus Christ has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross oh the bliss of this glorious thought my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more praise the